Sales slip at The Restaurant Group

The Restaurant Group (TRG), which operates casual dining brands including Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito, endured a 1.8% fall in like-for-like sales for the 20 weeks to 21 May this year.

That’s according to a trading update from the firm, which has 491 pubs and restaurants throughout the country.

Total sales fell 1.5% during the period.

The update came ahead of the group’s AGM. TRG is currently in the throes of turning around its leisure business, which has struggled with poor sales.

At the start of this year, TRG revealed in its like-for-like sales had fallen 3.9% in the 53 weeks to 1 January 2017, and put 23 sites up for sale. It parted company with chief executive Danny Breithaupt in late 2016, with current chief executive Andy McCue taking his place.

In March the company announced it was building a “leaner organisation”, focussing on trying to restablish the competitiveness of its brands, which also include Coast to Coast and Brunning & Price.

Debbie Hewitt, chairman, said in her statement this morning that 2017 was a “transitional year” and that the business expected to deliver pre-tax profit for the full year in line with market expectations.